As the Federal Government deploys 1000 forest guards to Oyo State to help check the insecurity in the state and probably also help rescue the school pupils and teachers kidnapped some weeks back, if the officers deployed are having issues with inadequate mobility, there are two patrol vehicles lying idle at Mile 2 that belong to the Nigeria Forest security Service.

The two patrol vehicles help to bring to light the inappropriate use of government facility that undermines public trust and compromises the effectiveness of essential services. Recent findings indicate that the two vehicles belonging to the Nigeria Forest Security Service have been operating under the control of persons suspected to be members of the NURTW Mile 2, Lagos far from the locations where they are expected to support forest protection and enforcement activities.

The vehicles have been around the area for over six months now, it was learnt. This development raises questions about compliance with asset-use regulations, supervisory oversight, and the potential neglect of critical forestry duties, especially in a time that the South West is also battling insecurity around its forest. Given the importance of these vehicles in supporting forest surveillance and patrol activities, their deployment for purposes unrelated to their designated function warrants investigation.

While one of the patrol vehicles is permanently parked at the entrance of the road leading to the Lagos Ferry Terminal in Mile 2, the other is occasionally parked in front of the NURTW office in Mile 2. One of the vehicles was even deployed for the enforcement of the monthly environmental sanitation that was recently re-introduced by the Lagos State government.